County cricket – as it happened | Sport
1.00pm EDT
13:00
Just got back from a very entertaining chat with Tino Best to see Essex got their draw at Glamorgan.
What a fantastic round of Championship cricket; five results, three very decent draws, plenty of collapses on eight decent pitches, and not too much rain. Now let me get on and write about it.
Thank you all so much for your company these last four days, it’s been a (natwest t20) blast. It’ll be Jamie Bowman manning the good ship County Cricket - Live! from Sunday (he’ll be at the Roses match), but I imagine I will be back on these shores before long. Please keep clicking, keep commentating and all the rest. It’s great fun for us ATL when we know you’re reading, and keeps the whole thing viable too!
pre bonded hairSpeak soon, folks, and thanks for reading.
12.09pm EDT
12:09
Nick Browne out at Cardiff. Can the Welsh get up?
12.08pm EDT
12:08
That is the game, amazingly:

HAMPSHIRE WIN BY 69 RUNS.
First ball, Gurney tried to hit Crane into the Solent, got a wild edge and was caught at point. No point Read batting when he’s so crocked with so many required. Hampshire’s first win of the season. Well done them!
12.05pm EDT
12:05
Samit’s gone. And that might just be that. Crane, remy hair extensionsbowling round the wicket into some considerable rough, has got Patel to attempt a slog-sweep, and he’s edged an extravagant turner through to first slip. Great bowling. 235-8. Chris Read unlikely to bat with his bad hand.
12.00pm EDT
12:00
12.00pm EDT
12:00
DRAW AT BRISTOL. WELL BATTED ROB NEWTON AND STEVEN CROOK BUT AT THE MOMENT I’M AFRAID I DON’T REALLY CARE BECAUSE THE AGEAS IS FUN
11.57am EDT
11:57
Fletch and Samit at the crease. I know what you’re thinking: do it in boundaries. Well, we’ve just had the first indicator as to why. Fletch edged Crane wide of slip and the outfield here is slow. Samit ran two as hard as his little sausage legs could carry him and turned for the third, but Fletch didn’t get the memo. The big lad fancied keeping the strike. But Samit was sprinting at him, so Fletch set off the third as the ball was coming into the keeper. Wheater gathered and threw to the non-strikers, but missed by a mile and Fletch made it. Jeeeeeeezzzzz this is tense.
11.53am EDT
11:53

TWO IN AN OVER AT THE AGEAS!!! TWO FOR TINO!!! Double nelson, double wicket maiden!!!
Hutton was roughed up a bit with his first few balls. Then Tino banged one in short and Hutton pulled, straight to Crane at fine leg, who set himself and took a fine tumbling catch, slipping over, before going absolutely gorillas with his team-mates. Patel turns down an easy single to fine-leg off Fletcher’s first ball. Tino has 4-40.
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11.50am EDT
11:50
SHOCK: MATCH DRAWN AT LORD’S. Every game played by either Somerset and Middlesex this season has been drawn.
11.48am EDT
11:48
perruques cheveux naturelsOh wow! Tino’s just bowled Christian with the first ball of the second over of his new spell. It’s a yorker, and middle stump is no longer standing. Just. Perfect.
Btw, Tino set off in celebration and Hampshire just chased him. The bloke is magnetic.
Hutton in now; ring field. Two slips, gully. This game is (***)hot. I really want to swear but I really shouldn’t.
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11.42am EDT
11:42
This game is on a rather lovely knife edge. Tino and Crane in tandem now. Christian a bit wafty, and Samit’s never more than 10-15 seconds from slapping to cover. Hutton’s in next and can bat, but with just Gurney and Fletch to follow, this stand really is vital. Read will only bat, as I’ve said before, if absolutely necessary.
11.40am EDT
11:40
11.32am EDT
11:32

Steven Crook’s got a hundred! Northants have had one hell of a day.
11.20am EDT
11:20
Shame.
— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC)
May 25, 2016
Off for bad light. Somerset 202-7. Hildreth 85*, Overton 19*. #TeamMiddlesex
11.16am EDT
11:16
Huge straight six down the ground from Christian off Crane...
11.08am EDT
11:08
perruques cheveuxIt’s all go here; Hampshire charged 5 penalty runs as Samit edges/misses Crane and it hits the helmet behind, and now Crane has had Christian dropped - very hard, fast chance - at first slip by a furious Ervine. Samit’s got 50 and Notts need 125...
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11.05am EDT
11:05
There is a stream of Glamorgan’s game with Essex here, and you’re mad not to be watching it. Dan Lawrence just got out, and the Glammys are pushing for their first win since July 2015.
11.01am EDT
11:01
10.56am EDT
10:56
We have our fourth result of the round! Kent fly home with 18 from three balls from Alex Blake.
— Sam Billings (@sambillings)
May 25, 2016
Awesome win @kentcricket ! 🙌🏼 #topofthelog
10.51am EDT
10:51
Well done to Durham!
— Graham Onions (@BunnyOnions)
May 25, 2016
Another special win today against a very good side.Some young players showing a huge amount of maturity, oh and ridiculous amounts of skill
10.44am EDT
10:44

Probably haven’t given Northamptonshire enough credit for their sterling work in Bristol today. They are 237-4 for the day and with 34 overs remaining, that is probably that.
Tea here at the Ageas, no more wickets. Notts need 128 in 39 overs, with four wickets in hand, really. Read highly unlikely to bat.
10.36am EDT
10:36
Advice from the man sat to my right:
— Vithushan (@Vitu_E)
May 25, 2016
Samit or bust for Notts. This could be a belter. If you're in Southampton, get a car with half a tank, jump onto the M27 or take the A27...
10.34am EDT
10:34
lace front wigsGame on here! Taylor has slapped Crane to Tino at mid-on, and the great man took a fine catch, before hurling the ball into oblivion. 10-man Notts need 129 more, and have four wickets really. Think Read will bat if absolutely necessary, but the man is wearing a proper plaster cast.
10.18am EDT
10:18
Suddenly, things are looking dreamy for Nottinghamshire, even if Read isn’t batting. The stand between Taylor - who is looking a million dollars - and Samit, who is trotting along and recently edged Crane between keeper and slips, is 96 from 20 overs. Tino is now bowling some wild stuff, and twice has gone through the keeper for four byes/wides with wild bouncers. Dangerous times for Hampshire.
10.14am EDT
10:14
10.02am EDT
10:02
I like this tweet, because of the optimism. Can they get the 284?
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket)
May 25, 2016
Essex 50 for 3, Nick Browne 31*, Dan Lawrence 1* and there are a minimum of 47 overs remaining. Another 284 runs required to win #GlavEss
10.00am EDT
10:00
Tino bowling to Samit at the Ageas Bowl... The stuff dreams are made of.
9.57am EDT
09:57
This game surely has too much to do, but 2 in 2 for Rayner has it on the move...
— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC)
May 25, 2016
WICKET - Somerset 156-6. Gregory c Franklin (slip) b Rayner 0. #TeamMiddlesex#bowlingOllie
With 47 overs after this one, Somerset are 109 ahead with four in hand.
Here, Brendan Taylor has 59, and Samit 34, as the pot bubbles. Beautifully poised with all four results very much possible.
9.46am EDT
09:46
This is a great picture:
— Phil Makepeace (@AlteredCourse)
May 25, 2016
Action shot of Trego scaling the Lord's fence after both he and Hildreth (top) took an unscheduled comfort break. pic.twitter.com/gjn9PqGKRF
9.41am EDT
09:41
Can Glamorgan? Can they?
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket)
May 25, 2016
WICKET! Ravi Bopara fends a ball from Michael Hogan to Aneurin Donald at 2nd slip and goes for 6. Nick Browne 28*. 46-3. #GlavEss
9.38am EDT
09:38
9.31am EDT
09:31
Hundred up for Notts and a really fascinating period of the game coming up. With Taylor and Patel at the crease, Notts can win it. Without them there, I’d say they can’t (although Dan Christian is in next). Taylor has played a beautiful upper cut, and Samit is being Samit, depositing Dawson for a lovely hoicked legside four. 107-4, 198 to win. Read surely won’t bat, so five wickets required.
8.57am EDT
08:57
8.57am EDT
08:57
Another wicket at the Ageas! Empty Wessels has been drawn into a drive by McLaren. The ball has nipped away a fraction and he’s been caught behind.
8.48am EDT
08:48
8.41am EDT
08:41
Rob Newton adds the one he needed for a ton. He’s gonna need a few more to save the game.
— Alex Winter (@_alexwinter)
May 25, 2016
First match of the season and a battling century for Rob Newton. Northants need the fight to continue this afternoon... #bbccricket
8.27am EDT
08:27
So I’ve had a bite to eat so I thought I’d actually do my job and chat to you all about what is going on around the grounds...
A wicket for Glamorgan on the stroke of lunch! Can they force their first win (in any format) since July last year?! Essex bat deep and bat big, so I wouldn’t rule them out yet. The equation: Glamorgan need 9 wickets, Essex need 322 runs, and there are 66.5 overs remaining.
Kent are off to a flyer in their pursuit of 175 against Derbyshire. The equation: Derbyshire need 10 wickets, Kent need 149 runs, and there are 65 overs remaining.
Rob Newton has 99 for Northants and is digging in to save the game against Gloucestershire. The equation: Northants trail by 18 runs, with five wickets in hand. 65 overs remaining.
Up in Div One:
cosplay wigsJames Hildreth is doing his thing at Lord’s. The equation: Somerset lead by 46, with six wickets in hand. 66 overs remain.
And here at the Ageas Bowl, Tino Best is having a great time. Nottinghamshire are three down chasing 305, but Chris Read probably won’t bat. Notts require 255 more runs, Hampshire need seven (six, really) wickets. 69 overs left.
What an afternoon we have in store. How good is county cricket?!
8.02am EDT
08:02
Lunch here at the Ageas and Notts are 50-3, still 255 away, and having just lost a third wicket.... McLaren has got one to bounce and nip at Mullaney, who edged to first slip...
Mes (who has a real name!) has been in touch ATL:
“I’m doing incantations for Glamorgan to take a wicket,” he writes, :(I bowed to the better judgement of HPG and Captbnut on the declaration). So I’m singing this iny my head (at work):
Mae bys Meri-Ann wedi brifo,
A Dafydd y gwas ddim yn iach.
Mae’r baban yn y crud yn crio,A’r gath wedi sgrapo Joni bach.
Sosban fach yn berwi ar y tân,Sosban fawr yn berwi ar y llawr,A’r gath wedi sgrapo Joni bach.”

I have absolutely no idea what this means. No idea.
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7.58am EDT
07:58
7.56am EDT
07:56
Kent flying along, aren’t they. What a game to win that is.
Right, I notice comments are down again. Hold fast they will be back soon but there’s nought I can do about it. Feel compelled to tell me something? Sub-140 character thoughts to @willis_macp and more conherent/longer thoughts to will.macpherson.freelance@guardian.co.uk. Fire away.
7.50am EDT
07:50
7.43am EDT
07:43
Elsewhere, things are happening, aren’t they?
Derbyshire, what have you done? Kent need 175 to win.
Glamorgan have declared (well batted Mr Bragg), and Essex need 334 from 70, I believe.
Middlesex, good on you. Somerset are 60-4 and lead by just one. Hildreth the key, you’d say. Both sides looking for their first non-draw, so up the result!
DURHAM HAVE WON, CONGRATULATIONS DURHAM!
Just a shame Colly couldn’t see them home a day before turning 44, but that is a spectacular effort. Well done. How often has a guy taken a nine-bag and not won?
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7.37am EDT
07:37
Apologies if I’ve been a bit quiet, I’ve been perambulating the Ageas’s Bowl in pursuit of a black americano, which I now have, and am sipping.
While this may sound like a dereliction of duty, it was not without cricketing rewards. I come bearing news, and it ain’t good for Nottinghamshire: I bumped into Chris Read, off to throw white balls at Greg Smith in the nets with Peter Moores. He has a proper cast on his left wrist. Can’t see him batting today; can’t see him batting for six weeks or so...
We have had another wicket too, and it belongs to Tino! The sheer chutzpah of the bloke is a sight to behold. He’s struck Lumb on the pads (again - there was a huge appeal earlier) from round the wicket and after about ten minutes up went the finger. Make your mind up below. Lumb was looking good after a decent working over: he absolutely nailed a pull into the small of Tom Alsop’s back at short leg. Looked very sore.
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket)
May 25, 2016
WATCH: Terrific @tinobest! Never short of pace, or a passionate @CountyChamp celebration! pic.twitter.com/OdQUvb2yGR
6.57am EDT
06:57
Tinooooooo! He’s got Libby, and the hosts are on the move. Couple of throat balls were followed by a fuller one, which was duly nicked. Tino is making loads of noise.
6.54am EDT
06:54
Derbyshire are making a bit of a hash of things, aren't they?
6.46am EDT
06:46
Tino’s first ball has just cracked into a ducking Mullaney’s back... This is going to be fun. He had Lumb, particularly, in all sorts of trouble a couple of days ago.
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6.38am EDT
06:38
I see there’s been a fourth wicket at both Derby and Bristol, and Keaton Jennings has his third hundred of the year up at Edgbaston. I’m backing us to get four more results today.
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6.37am EDT
06:37
The lead is 300 at the Ageas! Declaration, slogging, wicket all incoming. These two - Crane and Tomlinson, who on-drove his first ball for three played some nice shots - and, oh, there’s the declaration. Will Smith’s on the balcon calling them in.
Nottinghamshire will need 305 to win off 86 overs. Light roller being used as I type. Good game, good game.
6.21am EDT
06:21
Gurney has his ninth wicket of the match! He’s got one to nip back at McLaren, and it’s struck him - a bit high perhaps - and the finger went up. Empty Wessels - still keeping - threw down the stumps too so he was probably out on two counts. 282 is the lead.
6.16am EDT
06:16
There’s a bit going on around the grounds; Middlesex are all out, 47 ahead, and Jack Leach has a five-fer. Very good few days for the J.Leaches.
On Durham charge, with Jennings onto 98. Paul Collingwood is 40 tomorrow! Would be a decent birthday present if they could pull this one off....
Here, Ryan McLaren, who is looking a cracking overseas signing once again, has taken Hampshire past 200, and a lead of 281. We’re on declaration watch.
6.12am EDT
06:12
No full report from me yesterday I’m afraid, as England decided to go announce what a few of us had long suspected: that Reece Topley was facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines. There’s the round-up at the bottom of the piece, though.
In the report’s absence, mind, I’d recommend reading this from Selve. Just a lovely piece on how we seldom think about the guards we take.
Graham Gooch hits the nail on the head when it comes to taking guard | Mike Selvey
6.02am EDT
06:02
Good morning, how are you all? I’m at the Ageas Bowl, where - unlike the last couple of days - the sun isn’t shining. But it’s not going to rain. Hampshire’s last three batsman are going to come out for a bit of a swing. They’re currently 270 ahead, so Notts already require the highest score of the match to win. They failed in a smaller chase against Warwickshire last week, of course, but Samit had some fun. This should be a cracking day.
There are five other matches to be completed too. It should be a short, but excellent, day at Edgbaston, where Durham require not too many, and Warwickshire still need six wickets. Could Chris Wright trump Woakes and get ten?! At Lord’s, they’re starting on time despite some doubt, and it’s looking very drawy. What do I know, though?
In Div 2, one game is already complete, and there are three to run. Could there, improbably, be results at Derby and Cardiff? And how long will it take Gloucestershire to see off Northants?
Enjoy the great game, folks, and be sure to barrack hard below the line.
5.25am EDT
05:25
Today we have Will Macpherson at the Ageas Bowl to cover Hampshire v Nottinghamshire. Here is his report on the news from Hampshire yesterday:
England’s Reece Topley ruled out for three months with back injury
And, in case you missed it last night, here’s Mike Selvey’s column:
Graham Gooch hits the nail on the head when it comes to taking guard | Mike Selvey
Enjoy the cricket
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